ALOR STAR: The Desa Sejahtera housing plot programme for the poor launched by the state government recently, will be expanded to applicants from all races in Kedah in the future.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the State Assembly today that for the programme's pilot project, priority would be given to underprivileged applicants from the Malay community across all 12 districts in the state.
"The total plots allocated under the programme is 1,281 plots. The programme will be rolled out in stages based on the needs in every district.
"We will make sure that the plots are offered to applicants that meet the criteria set by the state government," he said in response to Shahir Long (PN-Pantai Merdeka) while debating the Kedah Budget 2025.
The application is open for poor and hardcore families with a household monthly income of not more than RM2,589 and for the B40 families with household monthly income of not more than RM4,764.
The programme is open to applicants who do not own or inherit any property and the application is verified by District Focus Group Meeting.
In responding to a supplementary question from state opposition leader, Bau Wong Bau Ek (PH-Sidam), Sanusi said the programme will be expanded to applicants from other races in future.
"We do acknowledge that there are poor families from other races as well, and we will expand the programme specifically for the Siamese, Chinese and Indian communities in future.
"However, for the pilot project, we will prioritise the Malays as the community is the largest in the state, before we expand the programme to other races," he said.
Sanusi also informed the House that the selection process would be done in a transparent manner and free from political influence.
"We will only select applicants that meet the criteria regardless of their political affiliation," he said